Barry William Blenkhorn (born September 30, 1954),[4] better known by his stage name Barry Williams, is an American actor. He is known for his role as the eldest of the Brady sons, Greg Brady, on the ABC television series The Brady Bunch (1969–1974), a role he reprised in several sequels and spin-offs including the animated series The Brady Kids (1972–1973), the variety series The Brady Bunch Hour (1976–1977) and the television films The Brady Girls Get Married (1981) and A Very Brady Christmas (1988) and the reality television series A Very Brady Renovation (2019).
In 1988, Williams appeared on Broadway in the musical Romance/Romance with Tony Award-nominee Alison Fraser. Williams took over the lead male role of "Alfred/Sam" when Scott Bakula left the production. Years later, Williams was able to capitalize on being typecast as Greg Brady. Amid a procession of appearances in TV and films that played up his famous teen role, he ended up landing a role that was a departure from the Brady image. He was tapped to play English con man Hannibal in 1984, who conspired with Holly Sutton Scorpio (Emma Samms) on the top-rated General Hospital.
Other shows Williams has appeared in include Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote, Full House, That 70s Show, and Scrubs. Williams appeared briefly as an audience member in the 2002 music video of Peter Gabriel's song, "The Barry Williams Show". The song is actually about a fictional Jerry Springer-like talk show host, not the actor; Gabriel later revealed that he did not know of the Brady Bunch star when he wrote the song. Williams has made multiple appearances as a paid featured dancer at the World's Largest Disco in Buffalo, New York. Between 2001 and 2002, he played Manager Dean "The Machine" Strickland in 13 episodes of the sitcom, Hollywood 7, which featured the British pop group S Club 7. Williams played himself in the 2003 film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. In 2008, Williams appeared in Episode 6 of the VH1 series, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Williams participated as a friend of one of the patients, Chyna, and explained to her during a group session how drinking had a negative impact on his own life and career.[10]
In 2022, Williams, Knight, and Lookinland competed in season eight of The Masked Singer as "Mummies". They were eliminated on "TV Theme Night" alongside Daymond John as "Fortune Teller".[15]
With second wife Eila Mary Matt, he had a son named Brandon Eric Williams in January 2003 With ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Kennedy, he had a daughter named Samantha Rose Williams in April 2012.
Legal issue
In January 2001, Williams was fined $52,000 by Actors' Equity Association, the union representing stage actors, for starring as Captain Von Trapp in a non-union tour of The Sound of Music. According to Variety, the production was picketed in several cities. Williams responded by filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, arguing that the fine was illegal because he had resigned from the union in September 2000 before the tour began.[17] Equity alleged that Williams, who joined the union in 1974, was still a member when he began contract negotiations for the role.[18]
Williams was reinstated by Actor's Equity as a member in good standing in 2005 after he unionized a non-Equity production of A Christmas Carol in late 2004.[citation needed]
^ abSilverman, Stephen M. (January 28, 2005). "In Brief". People. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
^Dam, Julie K.L.; Miller, Samantha (December 13, 1999). "The Family Still Matters". People. Vol. 52, no. 23. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
^"Experience Matt". Seawinds Asset Management. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2015. Note: Some sources erroneously give first name as "Ella"
